Can opener



Dec 15, 1959 R. E. .1. NORDQUIST CAN OPENER I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D60. 27, 1957 INVENTOR.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST AT TORNEYS e 1959 R. E. J. NORDQUIST 2,915,317

CAN OPENER Filed Dec. 27, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY WA). 41%

ATTORNEYS United States Patent i CAN OPENER Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Summit, N.J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 27, .1957, Serial No. 705,569

10 Claims. (Cl. 30-4) The present invention relates to .an apparatus for opening cans or containers and has particular reference to an improved automatic canopener for containersfrequently dispensed by vending machines.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a vending machine can opener in which the opening'of the cans is effected in a normally closed compartment .so as to maintain the region of opening free of foreign Another object is .to providefor' enclosing' the' can to be opened. and the control of can opening elements, by way of a shielding door having elements which maintain it in a normally closed position.

Another object is to provide for the support of the can to be opened and for the holdingof 'the canin a predetermined relation to the opening device-during the opening operation. 7

Another object is to provide novel opening elements which result in smooth carefree operation in an efiicient manner.

Numerous other objects and' advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better' understood from the following description, which, taken inconnectionwith the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred" embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure '1 is a perspective view of a can opener embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of" a" can opened by theapparatus shown in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view takensubstantial-ly along a vertical plane indicated bythe lines 3'-3 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, and 6 are transverse sectional views 'taken substantially along the respective lines 4-4; 5-5, 6 -6 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is'a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the lower portion of the apparatus with certain of the par ts'in a different relation;

Fig. '8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. '3 with parts of the apparatus in their respective positions duringthe can opening operation;

Fig. 9 is a'fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9' in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing" principal parts of thexapparatus and a wiring diagram of theelectric devices used in: the apparatus; and

Fig.1 11 is a-fragmentary,' sectional view" similar to 2 Fig. 3, showing a modified form *of the invention and including a wiring diagram of the electric devices therein.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings disclose a fully enclosed, sanitary, can opening apparatus which may be utilized as a separate unit or may be incorporated in a conventional vending machinefor dispensing cans or containers' A (Fig. 2) of various products. In cans containing liquid-products such as beverages and the like, the opening' preferably is effected by punching a dispensing opening B and a ventopening C in the top D of the can as shown in Fig. 2. In cans containing solid 'or' semiliquid products, the top D of the can preferably isprepared for lifting olf' by cutting through the outer layer of the top end seam E of the can, substantially midway between its upper and lower edges.

The apparatus preferably comprises a back-plate 21 (Figs. 1 and 3) and a rectangular shaped cover 22 secured thereto, the whole constituting an enclosure having an entrance 23 normally closed by a vertically movable door 24 held under an upward pressure to keep the enclosure closed at all times except for the'introduction of a can A into the apparatus or for the removal of a can after it has been opened;

The door '24 controls a can support 25 yieldably mounted within the enclosure so that when the door is pushed down'to open it, it engages and 'holds the sup- -por't 25 in a depressed position adjacent the lower edge 'ofdhe enclosure entrance 23 for the'recepti'on of a can A to'be opened. Upon release of the door 24 it closes itself, and permits the support 25 to rise and thereby lift the can into an opening position with the top of the can pressed against a horizontal partition 26 in the enclosure adjacent the upper edge of'the entrance 23. The support 25 has sufficient movement to permit the reception of and lifting of cans of different heights within a desired range.

When the can A is in opening position, the support 25 prefe'rably is locked against depression by a locking device27 which partially is controlled by the door 24. In this position th'e can A and the door 24 cooperate in setting in motion a can opening device 28 which is disposed above the partition 26 in a compartment which is inaccessible to the user of the apparatus so that the opening elements are guarded against tampering with or inflicting injury upon the user of the apparatus. The can opening device 28 is actuated electrically through a normally open circuit which requires 'both the can A and the door 24in its fully. closed position, to close it to start a cycle of operation. When the cycle is completed the circuit is broken.

7 The door 24 preferably is a rectangular shaped, flat, slide'door of dimensions slightly larger than the enclosure entrance 23 and operablevertically in a pair of slideways 36 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) provided inside the enclosure cover 22 adjacent the two vertical edges of the entrance 23. The door 24 is maintained in an up or closedposition by a pair of long tension springs 38 which are disposed adjacent the two vertical edges of the door. The lower end of each spring 38 is secured to respective inwardly projecting lugs 39 (Figs. 3 and 6) carried by the door'adjacent itslower edge. The upper ends of the springs 38 are secured by pins 41 to the side walls of the enclosure cover 22 at points above the entrance 23 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Guard members 43 carried'by the door 24 and extending around the springs 38 protect the springs against injury by cans passed through the entrance 23.

through the entrance 23. To etfect this passage of a can, the door 24 is depressed against the resistance of the springs. For this purpose the door is provided with an integral curled handle 44.

The can support 25 is disposed adjacent the enclosure entrance 23 for operation by the door 24 and is provided with a curved locating member 47 (Figs. 1, and 9) to locate a received can in a predetermined position. This can support 25 preferably is provided with a long depending hollow hub 49 which extends down over a long vertically disposed compression spring 51 which surrounds and is held in vertical relation by a vertical guide rod 52. The lower end of the guide rod is secured in a bracket 53 which extends out from the backplate 21.

Along its two edges, the can support 25 is provided with a lug 55 (Figs. 5 and 9) which carries a depending guide rod 56 which slides in a bearing block 57 secured to the inner faces of the two side walls of the enclosure cover 22. Below the bearing blocks 57 the rods 56 carry stop collars 58. The guide rods 56 serve as guides to prevent turning of the support and the collars 58 serve as stops to limit the vertical movement of the support 25 under the pressure of the compression spring 51 when no can is in place on the support.

Along its front edge, the can support 25 is provided with a ledge 61 which is disposed in the path of travel of a cooperating ledge 62 projecting inwardly from the handle 44 on the door 24. When the door is fully closed as shown in Fig. 3, its ledge 62 is above and free of the support 25 to permit full lifting of the support under the force of its spring 51. When the door 24 is moved down into an open position as shown in Fig. 7 the door ledge 62 engages the support ledge 61 and thus presses the support 25 down into its lowermost position substantially flush with the lower edge of the enclosure entrance 23 for the reception of a can A to be opened or for the removal of an opened can. In this lowered position of the support 25 there is ample clearance between the support and the partition 26 for the tallest can to be opened. When the support 25 is released by the lifting of the door into its closed position, the support compression spring 51 lifts the support and a can received thereon no matter how tall this can is and presses it upwardly against the partition 26 is shown in Fig. 8 for opening.

A can A raised to this opening position, preferably is locked against depression relative to the partition 26, by the locking device 27. This locking device 27 preferably oomprises a series of serrations or ratchet teeth 64 (Figs. 3, 7 and 8) arranged along the length of the support hub 49 and a cooperating upright pawl 65 disposed adjacent the teeth 64 and pivotally mounted on a bracket 66 attached to the back-plate 21. The pawl 65 is formed with a long arm 67 which depends below the pivot point and which is engageable by a pin 68 on a bracket 69 (see also Fig. 6) which extends inwardly from the lower portion of the door 24. A tension spring 71 stretched between the pawl arm 67 and the back-plate 21 tends to urge the pawl 65 toward the ratchet teeth 64.

When the door 24 is in its open position as shown in Fig. 7 the pin 68 on the door holds the pawl arm 67 so that the pawl 65 is retracted from the ratchet teeth 64 to permit free operation of the can support 25 as mentioned above. When the door 24 is raised to closed position as shown in Fig. 8, the pin 68 rides up along the pawl arm 67, holding the pawl 65 retracted from the ratchet teeth 64 until the door releases the can support and the door is nearly closed. The pin 68 then rides off the pawl arm 67 and permits the spring 71 to rock the pawl 65 into engagement with the teeth 64 and thereby lock the can support against depression. After a can opening operation, the opening of the door, immediately engages its pin 68 with the pawl arm 67 and thus retracts the pawl 65 before the door engages the can support to lower it as hereinbefore explained.

The can opening device 28 preferably is housed in the upper end of the enclosure, above the partition 26, so that the opening elements and the mechanism for actuating them are inaccessible to the user of the apparatus. This can opening device 28 preferably comprises an angularly disposed carrier arm 73 (Figs. 3, 4 and 8) having its lower end mounted on a pivot pin 74 carried in a pair of spaced bearings 75 projected upwardly from the partition 26. The upper end of the arm 73 is connected by a link 77 to a projecting pin 78 of a crank 79 connected to a rotor shaft 81 of a combined gear reduction electric motor unit 82 secured to the back-plate 21. Intermediate its ends, the carrier arm 73 carries a pair of spaced, projecting cutter or punch blades 84, 85 and an attached electric heater sterlizing unit 86 for the blades. The sterilizing unit 86 maintains the blades 84, 85 at a predetermined temperature to keep them in a sterile condition between opening operations.

Through the motor unit 82, the carrier arm 73 normal ly is maintained in an upwardly inclined position as shown in Fig. 3. Upon actuation of the motor unit 82 through one cycle, the crank 79 sweeps through a complete rotation of 360 degrees and in so doing rocks the carrier arm 73 down into a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 8 to perform the can opening operation and then returns the arm to its normal position. This rocking movement of the carrier arm 73 swings the punch blades 84, 85 downwardly through respective openings 88, 89 in the partition 26 and thrusts the blades into the top of the raised can A to produce the dispensing opening B and the vent opening C hereinbefore mentioned (see Fig. 2) A can back-up stop 90 depending from the partition 26 and a U-shaped guide 91 attached to the backplate 21 back-up the upper end of the can during this opening operation.

Actuation of the motor unit 82 through a can opening cycle preferably is effected through a pair of suitable electric circuits which include a normally closed cycle terminating switch 92 (Figs. 3 and 10), a normally open door actuating switch 93 (see also Fig. 4) and a double acting can operated switch 94. The double acting switch 94 is normally open to a pair of contacts 95 and is normally closed to a pair of contacts 96 which are in circuit with a normally energized electric solenoid 97 which controls a pivotally mounted lever 98 having one end engaging and holding the switch 92 normally closed. The opposite end of the lever 98 projects into the path of but is free of the pin 78 on the crank 79.

Hence when a can A to be opened is raised into opening position against the partition 26 as shown in Fig. 8, the top of the can engages the actuating element of the double acting switch 94 (see Fig. 10) and thereby closes the switch against the contacts 95 and opens it relative to the contacts 96. This partially establishes the motor unit 82 starting circuit and also deenergizes the solenoid 97. A spring controlled ball detent 101 (Fig. 10) operating against the switch end of the lever 98 holds the lever in place to keep the switch 92 closed during the period the solenoid is deenergized.

Upon the closing of the door 24, a button 102 on a bracket 103 extending inwardly from the door (Figs. 3, 5 and 10), engages and closes the normally open door actuated switch 93. Thus with the switch 93 and the contacts 95 of switch 94 closed, the starting circuit is fully established and current flows from a suitable source such as a generator 105, to and through the closed switch 92, the motor unit 82, an indicator light 106, the closed switch 93, contacts 95 of switch 94 and thence returning to the generator. This sets the motor unit 82 in operation and starts the crank 79 moving through its one cycle sweep in the direction of the arrow as viewed in Fig. 3, to effect opening of the can A as hereinbefore explained.

Near the completion of the cycle, as the crank pin 78 is moving up toward its normal at-rest position as shown in Fig. 3, it engages the free end of the switch lever 98 as shown in Fig. 10 and rocks the lever in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. '10) and therebycauses? the normally closed switch '92 to open. The detent 1.01 holds the lever 98 in this new position. The openingof switch 92 breaks the circuit and thereby cuts out the motor unit 82, causing it to stop and thereby terminates the operation of the opening device, leaving the crank 79 in its normal position as shown in Fig. 3. Thisvbreaking of the circuit also extinguishes the light 106 and: thus indicates that the can opening operation is completed.

With the opening of' the door 24 and the resultant lowering of the can support 25, as explained hereinbefore, the switch 93 is opened, the switch 94 is opened relative to the contacts 95 and closed against contacts 96, with the result that the cycle starting circuit is returned to its normally open condition and the solenoid 9.7 is reenergized to rock the lever 98 and close the switch 92. The entire mechanism is thus returned to its normal condition for a subsequent operation. This completes a can opening operation.

Where the entire top of the can is to be severed during the, opening operation as mentioned hereinbefore, a modified form of opening device is utilized as shown in Fig. 11. In this modified form of apparatus the gear reduotion=electric motor unit 82 rotates a driveroller 111 which is journaled in the partition 26 and depends therefrom for engagement against the inner vertical face of :the end seam E of a. can A lifted into opening position .by the can support 25.

This form of opening device also utilizes a cutting roller 112 which is disposed adjacent the periphery of the drive roller 111, in spaced relation thereto and in substantially the same horizontal plane, for engagement against the outer periphery of the end seam E substantially midway between its upper and lower edges. This cutter roller 112 preferably is rotatably mounted on the lower end of a bell crank 114 which extends through an opening 115 in the partition 26. The bell crank 114 is pivotally mounted in bearing lugs 116 on the partition 26 and is connected to a movable core 117 of a normally deenergized electric solenoid 118. The solenoid 118 is connected in series to a source of electric current such as a generator 121, the motor unit 82, a normally closed time delay switch device 122, an indicator light 123, a. normally open door actuated switch 124, and a normally open can actuated switch 125.

When a can A to be opened is in raised position with its end seam E disposed between the drive roller 111 and the cutter roller 112, and the door 24 is fully closed, the two normally open switches 124, 125 are closed thereby, and the circuit is fully established and current flows therealong from the generator 121. This energizes the solenoid 118 to rock the bell crank 114 so as to press the cutter roller 112 tightly against the outer face of the can end seam E and thereby press the seam against the drive roller 111. Simultaneously with this action, the motor unit 82 rotates the drive roller 111 and thereby causes it through frictional contact with the end seam E, to rotate the can A and thereby cause the cutter roller 112 to traverse and cut through the outer layer of material of the can end seam to free the top D of the can. After one or more revolutions of the can, as desired, the time delay switch device 122 opens and breaks the circuit. This stops the operation of the motor unit 82 and retracts the cutter roller 112, so that the door 24 may be opened and the opened can removed. This opening of the door and removal of the can, opens the switches 124, 125 as in the preferred form of the invention and prepares the circuit for return to its normal condition, which is fully effected after a predetermined period of time when the time delay switch device closes to its normal condition.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement 6 of the parts 1 without departing from the apirit and scope of the. inventionor sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being-merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A can opener comprising an enclosure having an entrance for the introduction of a can thereinto, a can opening device mounted within said enclosure, actuating means for said device, a movable support within said enclosure for receiving a can to be opened, means .for continuously urging said support toward said opening device to hold a received can in opening position relative to said opening device, a door for said enclosure entrance, means operable against said door for yieldably retaining it in a normally closed position, and means on said door and operative against said can support for shifting said support away from said opening device and for holding said support in said shifted position when saididoor is opened. to receive a can to be opened-and .to remove an opened can.

2. A-can opener of the-character definedv in claim 1 wherein there is provided opening device actuating control means disposed in a location inaccessible through said enclosure entrance for holding said actuating means normally inoperative, and wherein there is provided means on said door to actuate said control means to prepare said opening device for operation only when said door is fully closed.

3. A can opener of the character defined in claim 1 wherein there is provided ratchet means operable against said can support for locking said support in a can opening position, and means on said door and operable against said ratchet means for unlocking said support for move ment with said door when the latter is opened.

4. A can opener of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said enclosure adjacent its entrance is provided with a pair of slideways and said door is a slide operable in said slideways, and wherein there is provided spring means attached to said door for retaining said door in its normally closed position.

5. A can opener of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said support is slidably mounted on a guide pin disposed within said enclosure and wherein there is provided a compression spring surrounding said guide pin for urging said support toward said opening device.

6. A can opener of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said support is provided with means for locating thereon a received can to be opened.

7. A can opener of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said support is provided with an elongated hub and said hub is formed with ratchet teeth and wherein said enclosure carries a pivotally mounted spring loaded pawl engageable with said ratchet teeth for locking said support in a can opening position, and wherein said door is provided With a release element engageable with said pawl when said door is opened, to pivot said pawl away from said ratchet teeth to unlock said support for shifting by said door away from said opening device.

8. A can opener, comprising an enclosure having an entrance for the introduction of a can thereinto, a door for said entrance, means for closing and yieldably retaining said door in a normally closed position, a movable support Within said enclosure adjacent said entrance for receiving a can to be opened, a partition in said enclosure above said support and immediately above said entrance, said partition setting off a closed compartment inaccessible through said entrance, a can opening device mounted in said compartment, said device having can opening elements projectable through apertures in said partition for opening a can on said support, means operable on the opening of said door for moving said support and the can thereon toward said partition to press and hold said can against the partition with a wall of the can in alignment with said opening elements while the can is opened thereby, means for actuating said can opening device, and control means operable by a can to be opened and said door and by said opening device for starting and terminating a cycle of operation of said opening device.

9. A can opener of the character defined in claim 8 wherein said can opening device includes a rotatable drive roller engageable inside a can end seam on a can to be opened for rotating said can, an electric motor for rotating said drive roller, a pivotally mounted cutter roller cngageable against the outer face of said can end seam, electric cutter actuating means connected to said pivotally mounted cutter roller for pivoting said cutter roller into and out of cutting engagement with said can end seam, and wherein said control means includes normally open electric switches connected together in series and to said motor and said cutter actuating means for effecting said can opening cycle of operation of said motor and said cutter actuating means, and a time delay device connected to said motor to terminate the can opening cycle after a predetermined period of operation of said motor and said cutter actuating means.

10. A can opener, comprising an enclosure having an entrance for the introduction of a can thereinto, a door for said entrance, means for yieldably retaining said door in a normally closed position, a support within said enclosure adjacent said entrance for receiving a can to be opened, a partition in said enclosure immediately above said entrance, said partition setting oif a closed compartment inaccessible through said entrance, a can opening device mounted in said compartment, said device including a pivotally mounted cutter head, a cutter on said head, an electric motor disposed adjacent said head, a crank arm attached to and rotatable by said motor, and a link connected to said head and said crank arm for pivoting said head into and out of can opening position upon actuation of said motor to project said cutter, control means including normally open electric switches connected together in series and to said motor and operable by said can and said door collectively to set said motor in operation and further including a normally closed electric switch connected in series to said first mentioned switches and to said motor, and a switch operating element actuated by said crank arm at the termination of a can opening cycle to open said normally closed switch to terminate the operation of said motor, and means operable through said can operated switch by the removal of an opened can to reset said normally closed switch to a closed condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

